Ezra 7:16 kjv
And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
Ezra 7:16 nkjv
and whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem?
Ezra 7:16 niv
together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:16 esv
with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:16 nlt
"Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:2-7 | "Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution... gold, silver..." | Contributions for the Tabernacle, parallel to Temple. |
| Exod 35:4-9 | "Take from among you a contribution to the Lord: whoever is of a generous heart..." | Freewill offerings for sanctuary building. |
| Lev 22:23 | "...freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted." | Distinction of freewill offerings. |
| Num 15:3 | "and make a food offering to the Lord...a freewill offering or your appointed feasts..." | Freewill offerings in burnt offering context. |
| Deut 16:10 | "Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a freewill offering..." | Freewill offerings as part of specific feasts. |
| 1 Chr 29:3-9 | "I have given to the house of my God my private treasure... and the people offered willingly..." | David's and Israel's freewill offerings for first Temple. |
| Ezra 1:4 | "...let them be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods..." | Cyrus's decree for rebuilding the Temple, material support. |
| Ezra 6:8-9 | "Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the building..." | Darius's support for Temple expenses and materials. |
| Ezra 7:15 | "And you are to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered..." | King's official freewill offerings. |
| Neh 1:2-3 | "Jerusalem lay in ruins..." | Reminder of Jerusalem's desolate state, necessity of restoration. |
| Neh 7:70-72 | "...some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave... gold..." | Freewill offerings for temple from a later period. |
| Psa 54:6 | "With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good." | Freewill offering as an act of thanksgiving and devotion. |
| Hag 1:8 | "Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," | Call to rebuild the Temple despite challenges. |
| Hag 2:8 | "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts." | God's ultimate ownership of all resources. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... to see if I will not open the windows of heaven..." | Importance of bringing offerings to God's house. |
| Matt 2:11 | "...they opened their treasures and presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." | Wise Men's offerings to the newborn King, signifying devotion. |
| 2 Cor 8:1-5 | "For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity..." | Giving willingly and cheerfully from the heart, even in need. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." | Emphasis on willing and cheerful giving for ministry. |
| Phil 4:18 | "I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering..." | Offerings to support ministry viewed as a spiritual sacrifice. |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Practical application of offering and sharing as pleasing to God. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house..." | The New Testament understanding of believers as God's spiritual temple. |
Ezra 7 verses
Ezra 7 16 Meaning
Ezra 7:16 specifies a core aspect of Ezra's mission authorized by King Artaxerxes: to bring a significant collection of resources to Jerusalem for the Lord's Temple. This includes all the available silver and gold found throughout the province of Babylonia, coupled with the freewill offerings spontaneously given by both the people of the Persian Empire and the priests themselves, all designated for the adornment and service of the House of their God in Jerusalem. This demonstrates both imperial support and the continued devotion of God's people for their place of worship.
Ezra 7 16 Context
Ezra chapter 7 begins a new section of the book, shifting to Ezra's personal narrative. The first six chapters recounted the initial return under Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the rebuilding of the Temple despite opposition, and its dedication. Chapter 7 then introduces Ezra, a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6). King Artaxerxes I issues a remarkable decree (Ezra 7:12-26), not only granting Ezra permission to go to Jerusalem but also providing extensive financial and material support for the Temple. Verse 16 falls within the scope of this decree, outlining a specific category of financial provisions entrusted to Ezra's care—the resources found in Babylonia and the voluntary contributions from the people and priests residing there. This context highlights the providential hand of God in stirring the heart of a pagan king to contribute to and even commission the restoration of Jewish worship, reinforcing the concept that "the king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will" (Prov 21:1).
Ezra 7 16 Word analysis
And all the silver and gold:
- "all": The Aramaic kol (כֹּל) emphasizes the totality or full amount that could be gathered. This implies a thorough effort to collect all available resources. It suggests comprehensive provisioning for God's house.
- "silver" (Aramaic: כֶּסֶף, kesef) and "gold" (Aramaic: זְהַב, zahav): These precious metals were standard forms of wealth, currency, and primary materials for adornment in ancient temples (Exod 25-27; 1 Kgs 6:20-22). Their inclusion signifies substantial and valuable resources dedicated to God's house.
that you may find:
- "find" (Aramaic: תִּמְצָא, timtza): This verb suggests availability and acquisition. It's not limited to specific, pre-allocated funds but implies an active collection or discovery of assets that are present within the given territory. This points to the freedom Ezra had in gathering resources, supported by the king's authority.
in the whole province of Babylonia:
- "province of Babylonia" (Aramaic: מְדִינַת בָּבֶל, medinat Bavel): Refers to the Persian satrapy (administrative division) of Babylonia, a vast and wealthy region that encompassed the former Babylonian Empire. This shows the extensive geographic scope of the king's generosity and the Jewish diaspora's reach.
with the freewill offering:
- "freewill offering" (Aramaic: נִדְבַת, nidvat, from Hebrew root nedavah): This is a crucial theological term in the Old Testament, denoting a voluntary gift, one not mandated by law but given out of a willing heart (Exod 35:29, Num 29:39). It signifies sincere devotion and generosity rather than forced contributions. Its presence here highlights the spiritual willingness accompanying material provision.
of the people and of the priests:
- "the people" (Aramaic: עַמָּא, ‘amma‘): Refers to the Jewish exiles residing in Babylonia, encompassing the wider community.
- "the priests" (Aramaic: כָּהֲנַיָּא, kahanayya): Specifies the descendants of Aaron who served in priestly duties. Both groups contributing underscores a unified, communal dedication to the Temple's needs, starting from the leaders down to the general populace.
which they offer willingly:
- "offer willingly" (Aramaic: מִתְנַדְּבִין, mitnaddvin): Reinforces the voluntary nature of the contribution, using a form of the same root as "freewill offering." This repeated emphasis ensures that these gifts are understood as true acts of worship, not taxes or levies, reflecting a willing heart toward God (2 Cor 9:7).
for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
- "the house of their God": Clearly identifies the destination and purpose of the resources—the Temple in Jerusalem. This specific phrase, beit Elahahon (בֵית אֱלָהֲהֹון), points to God's dwelling place and the center of Israelite worship.
- "which is in Jerusalem": Localizes the Temple, re-establishing Jerusalem as the singular, holy city for divine worship for the returning exiles.
Ezra 7 16 Bonus section
The specific inclusion of "freewill offerings of the people and of the priests" suggests a continued tradition of covenant fidelity even among those who remained in the diaspora. These individuals, though not returning to Jerusalem, actively participated in the spiritual restoration through their voluntary gifts, demonstrating solidarity and devotion to their heritage and faith from afar. This also parallels the enthusiastic freewill offerings for the Tabernacle in Exod 35-36 and for Solomon's Temple in 1 Chr 29, establishing a continuity of sincere giving for God's house across different historical periods of Israel. The king's endorsement of such a collection also implicitly acknowledges the legitimate religious practices of the Jews within his vast empire, promoting a degree of religious pluralism uncommon for the ancient world without direct coercion or conquest.
Ezra 7 16 Commentary
Ezra 7:16 captures the convergence of divine providence, imperial benevolence, and personal devotion in the post-exilic restoration. King Artaxerxes' decree goes beyond mere permission to rebuild, actively furnishing extensive material wealth—silver and gold from throughout the vast province of Babylonia. This highlights the concept that God can use even pagan rulers to fulfill His purposes for His people (Isa 44:28; Ezra 1:2-4). More significantly, the verse underscores the role of the "freewill offering." Unlike a forced tax, these contributions from both the ordinary Jewish people and the priests demonstrate a spontaneous, heartfelt commitment to God and His dwelling place. This voluntary spirit, reflecting a willing heart (Deut 16:10), was crucial in biblical worship, transforming a mere financial transaction into an act of love and faithfulness. The mention of "their God" further solidifies the exclusive devotion to the Lord, the God of Israel, and the ultimate purpose of all these riches: the sacred adornment and operational support of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was not merely about reconstruction but about establishing a place fit for true, worshipful encounters with the Living God.